Every step of the way

Posted by Mat Staver0pts on November 13, 2018

From the desk of:Mathew Staver, Founder and ChairmanLiberty Counsel

A Thousand Oaks, California, pastor promising to help people in crisis "every step of the way" is also battling for the life of his church. Liberty Counsel's legal team is there to help. See below — Mat.

Pastor Rob McCoy of Godspeak Calvary Chapel Church in Thousand Oaks, California, has been ministering nonstop to hurting people in that community following last week's tragic shooting. Then, just days after the gunman took 12 lives, residents of that same neighborhood were forced to flee a life-threatening wildfire raging at the community's doorstep. Pastor McCoy is the chaplain of the local rescue unit, and a member of the Thousand Oaks City Council, and Mayor Pro Tem.

Ironically, despite the good work of the pastor and the church, a lawsuit filed against the city of Thousand Oaks seeks to prevent the church from operating in a location formerly occupied by a YMCA.

Liberty Counsel has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the Dos Vientos Community Preservation Association and Donald Armstrong. The frivolous suit attempts to force the city of Thousand Oaks to undertake environmental review and other procedures that are not required. The Association does not represent the neighborhood and is comprised of a handful of people who are upset that a church is replacing the YMCA, which went out of business.

Liberty Counsel already had the suit dismissed once and is now seeking to get an amended suit dismissed. In Dos Vientos Community Preservation Association v. City of Thousand Oaks, Liberty Counsel represents a religious nonprofit foundation (Foundation) that purchased a building and entered into an agreement to rent the facility to Calvary Chapel. The city of Thousand Oaks supports the use of the facility by the church. Nonetheless, the so-called Association filed suit objecting to the church's use of the former YMCA facility.

Liberty Counsel is standing with the Foundation, Pastor McCoy and the people of Godspeak Calvary Chapel Church so that they can continue ministering the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Thousand Oaks in a real and tangible way during this time of crisis and in the months and years to come. As always, we do not charge our clients for representation.

Our legal team is always ready to fight on behalf of faith and family in California and across the nation.

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Pastor McCoy has been ministering to people in the Thousand Oaks community after the tragic mass shooting at Borderline Bar & Grill. In an emotional interview with ABC News, McCoy promised to be with those affected "every step of the way."

"It is going to be a long, hard road, but this community will stand together, and we'll love on these folks. That's the only way to get through it. I imagine there's going to be a lot of funerals, and we'll be asked to officiate, and we'll be there with the families. It's not something that you do just once. You walk through them, and then you have to be there when you remember their birthdays and for some, it'll be anniversaries," said McCoy.

Liberty Counsel will offer our legal services every step of the way. The way that Pastor McCoy has been ministering to hurting people in Thousand Oaks after this week's tragic shooting shows the deep need for this church in this community. Our prayers go out to the families and the community. This so-called association should take notice and drop this frivolous lawsuit against the city of Thousand Oaks. Now, more than ever, Pastor McCoy and Godspeak Calvary Chapel church are needed to bring hope and comfort.

The Holiday season is typically a very challenging season for nonprofit organizations like Liberty Counsel, yet as you can see, the need doesn't diminish during the holidays. In fact, we are experiencing more challenging times financially as the calls for our services increase.

Finally, THANK YOU for your partnership with Liberty Counsel, and for your prayers on behalf of our team.

God bless you!

Mathew Staver,Founder and ChairmanLiberty Counsel

P.S. Today, we continue to lift in prayer everyone affected by the two most recent California tragedies: We pray for God's peace to envelop those who mourn the loss of loved ones senselessly taken in the Thousand Oaks shootings. And, we pray for safety for everyone in the paths of the massive wildfires that have now taken the lives of dozens of people and consumed thousands of homes and businesses.